Symptoms In Adolescents Research Articles

Adverse childhood experiences and post-traumatic stress impacts on brain connectivity and alcohol use in adolescence

ABSTRACT The current study investigated the relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, within-network resting-state functional connectivity (rs-FC), and alcohol use during adolescence using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the National Consortium on Alcohol and Neurodevelopment in Adolescence study (NCANDA; N = 687). Significant rs-FC differences emerged that linked participant ACEs, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol use problems. Participants with ACEs compared to those without had diminished rs-FC within the default mode, salience, and medial frontoparietal networks (p ≤ 0.005). Further reduction in rs-FC within the default mode and medial frontoparietal networks (p ≤ 0.005) was found when PTSD symptoms were present in addition to ACEs. Findings suggest that PTSD symptoms are associated with lower within network rs-FC beyond exposure to ACEs, and some of these rs-FC changes were associated with worsened alcohol use problems (i.e. withdrawal symptoms). These findings highlight the importance of addressing PTSD symptoms in adolescents with a history of ACEs as it may mitigate problematic changes in brain connectivity and reduce the risk of developing alcohol use problems.

Insomnia in adolescent epidemiological studies: To what extent can the symptoms be explained by circadian factors?

ABSTRACT Epidemiological studies show a high prevalence of “insomnia” in adolescents. However, insomnia symptoms are not specific for insomnia disorder. Puberty is associated with circadian delay, which may cause insomnia symptoms such as problems falling asleep and daytime impairments, but also difficulties rising in the morning which is not a hallmark of insomnia disorder. The aim of this study was to investigate the extent to which adolescent insomnia symptoms may be attributed to circadian delay. The sample comprised 3,867 high-school-students. Survey instruments included the Bergen Insomnia Scale (BIS), the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire (MCTQ), the reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (r-MEQ), and items on subjective sleep problems and sleep-related behaviors. Symptoms of circadian delay (CD) were defined as i) trouble waking on school days, ii) ability to sleep long into the day, iii) waking ≥10:00 on free days and/or iv) oversleeping for school. A total of 34.5% reported insomnia according to BIS. Among these, 88.4% reported ≥1 CD-symptom and 15.5% reported all CD-symptoms. Adolescents with insomnia and ≥1 CD-symptom were often evening-types (56.9%), had long social jetlag (2:55 h) and large school-/free day discrepancy in sleep duration (6:04 vs. 8:34 h). Results suggest circadian delay as a plausible explanation for insomnia symptoms in many adolescents.

Sugar-sweetened beverages, relative grip strength, and psychological symptoms among rural adolescents in western China: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe increasing prevalence of psychological symptoms in adolescents has become an important problem faced by all countries in the world. The increased sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption and the decreased muscle strength had a serious negative impact on adolescent health. However, previous studies have mainly focused on adolescents in developed countries and fewer studies have been conducted in developing countries, especially in rural areas of western China. This study aims to explore the association of sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, and relative grip strength with psychological symptoms among rural adolescents in western China.MethodsIn this study, 11,018 adolescents aged 13–18 years from rural areas of Xinjiang and Tibet in western China were recruited using stratified randomized whole-cluster sampling in 2023. The participants were assessed for sugar-sweetened beverages consumption, relative grip strength, and psychological symptoms. Non-parametric tests, t-tests, logistic regression analyses, and ordered logistic regression analyses of generalized linear models were used to analyze the associations of sugar-sweetened beverage consumption and relative grip strength with psychological symptoms in adolescents.ResultsThe proportions of adolescents with sugar-sweetened beverages consumption of <1 times/week, 2–4 times/week, and >4 times/week in rural areas of western China were 34.6, 52.7, and 12.7%, respectively. The prevalence of adolescents’ emotional problems, behavioral problems, social adjustment difficulties, and psychological symptoms were 28.7, 27.0, 20.2, and 22.1%, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of grip strength among adolescents was assessed as (32.52 ± 10.13) kg and the relative grip strength was (0.60 ± 0.16) in rural areas of western China. Taking participants with sugar-sweetened beverages consumption <1 times/week group and relative grip strength at the fourth quartile as the reference, participants with SSB consumption >4 times/week and relative grip strength at the first quartile had the highest risk (OR = 2.77, 95% CI: 2.09–3.67, p < 0.001) of psychological symptoms.ConclusionElevated sugar-sweetened beverages consumption and decreased relative grip strength were associated with an increased prevalence of psychological symptoms. Prospective cohort studies are needed in the future to explore the causal relationships among SSB consumption, muscle strength, and psychological symptoms.

Cybervictimization and emotional symptoms in adolescents: mediating role of psychological flexibility versus inflexibility

BackgroundCyberbullying significantly affects adolescents, increasing the risk of negative emotional symptoms. This study explores how psychological flexibility and inflexibility may mediate this relationship, focusing on adolescent mental health in the context of cyberbullying.MethodsA sample of 2,171 secondary school students, aged 11–18 years, was used to assess cyberbullying, emotional symptoms, and levels of psychological flexibility and inflexibility.ResultsCybervictimization showed a direct relationship with emotional symptoms and psychological inflexibility. Psychological flexibility was negatively associated with cybervictimization and positively associated with mental health, acting as a protective mediator against the association of cyberbullying.ConclusionPsychological flexibility emerges as a key factor in reducing the negative association of cybervictimization in adolescents. These findings highlight the importance of developing strategies to improve psychological flexibility in young people as a means to strengthen their resilience in the face of cyberbullying and its emotional consequences.

Assessing the impact of mindfulness programs on attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents: a systematic review

BackgroundAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder which poses challenges for the individuals with the disorder and their families. While stimulant medications are effective, a comprehensive approach, including psychosocial and behavioral interventions, is recommended. There is a growing body of research exploring the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions for children with ADHD. Our study aims to assess the effectiveness of mindfulness interventions in reducing ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents through a systematic review of relevant studies.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, our systematic review searched PubMed, Cochrane library, Psycinfo, and Scopus from January 2000 to August 2022. We included studies focusing on mindfulness for pediatric ADHD, comprising various study designs with a minimum 8-week duration. Descriptive statistics summarized results, while risk of bias was assessed using Cochrane RoB and ROBANS tools. The quality of RCTs was further evaluated using the Correlation of Quality Measures tool.ResultsIn the initial search, 450 records were identified, and after removing duplicates, 339 underwent screening. Forty-one studies underwent full text assessment for eligibility, with 11 studies meeting inclusion criteria, including seven RCTs, two Quasi RCTs, and three cohort studies. These studies, conducted in five countries, involved participants aged 7 to 18 years. Six studies showed improvement in hyperactivity/inattentive symptoms, and five studies showed improvement in impulsivity.ConclusionsThis systematic review demonstrates the potential benefits of mindfulness programs on ADHD symptoms in children and adolescents. This study emphasizes the need for high-quality research to explore mindfulness-based interventions for ADHD management in younger populations.PROSPERO registration number: IDCRD42024520800

Selected determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms in adolescents aged 11–15 in relation to the pandemic COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine

IntroductionThe ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, and the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022 (a country bordering Poland on the east) have significantly impacted the mental health of young people in Poland, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues. The rising number of individuals struggling to cope with daily stressors, as well as non-normative stressors, may indicate a decrease in the individual’s potential, specifically in skills, attitudes, and competencies required to overcome difficulties that they encounter. It can be assumed that for young people, maintaining mental health under the influence of social stressors, such as the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine, depends on the ability to adapt positively, which is the ability of young individuals to adjust to situational demands in a way that allows them to effectively manage those situations. The aim of the conducted study was to determine whether social stressors, namely the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, and intrapsychic factors such as beliefs about oneself, others, life, and the world, influence the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth. An attempt was made to assess the significance of external stressors and internal potential resources for maintaining psychological balance among young people.MethodsThe study was conducted using the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCADS), the Questionnaire of Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and World Attitudes (QIIWA), as well as a survey created by the researchers containing questions about well-being in relation to the pandemic, remote learning, and the ongoing war in Poland’s neighboring country. Ethical approval for the planned research was obtained from the Bioethics Committee. The study included 945 adolescents aged 11–15 years (M = 13.10; SD = 1.11), representing a sample of youth from 14 regions of Poland.ResultsThe results and analyses are presented from three perspectives: (A) the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in relation to the gender and age of the respondents, (B) the significance of situational experiences, such as the COVID-19 pandemic (Q1), remote learning (Q2), and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine (Q3) for the occurrence of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth, and (C) other determinants of anxiety and depression symptoms in Polish youth, such as intrapsychic variables including self-esteem, satisfaction with relationships with others, and views on the world and life.DiscussionIt can be concluded that in the case of young people, maintaining mental health under the influence of social stressors such as the pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine depends mainly on intrapsychic variables, including the beliefs and attitudes of young people towards themselves, toward other people, the world and life.

Late positive potentials elicited by negative self-referential processing predict increases in social anxiety, but not depressive, symptoms from age 11 to age 12.

Social anxiety and depression exacerbate in early adolescence. Maladaptive self-referential processing confers risk for both conditions and can be assessed by the Self-Referent Encoding Task (SRET). Our cross-sectional findings indicated that the SRET-elicited anterior late positive potential (LPP) was uniquely associated with social anxiety symptoms, whereas behavioral SRET scores were uniquely associated with depressive symptoms. Expanding this work, this study investigated whether the SRET-generated behavioral and LPP indices differentially predicted changes of social anxiety or depressive symptoms over time. At baseline, 115 community-dwelling youths (66 girls; Mean age/SD = 11.00/1.16 years) completed an SRET with EEG. Youths reported social anxiety and depressive symptoms at baseline and ∼six and ∼ 12 months later, based on which the intercept and slope of symptoms were estimated as a function of time. A larger anterior LPP in the negative SRET condition uniquely predicted a larger slope (faster increase) of social anxiety (but not depressive) symptoms. Greater positive behavioral SRET scores marginally predicted a smaller slope (slower increase) of depressive (but not social anxiety) symptoms. We provided novel evidence concerning the differential, prospective associations between self-referential processing and changes of social anxiety and depressive symptoms in early adolescence.

The Impact of Age and Sex on the Expression and Severity of Borderline Symptoms in Individuals With Borderline Personality Disorder: An Iranian Study.

Reports of sex and age differences in the presentation of borderline symptoms have been limited to the Western literature and have not systematically compared adolescents with emerging and older adults with borderline personality disorder (BPD). This study aimed to examine the impact of age and sex on the expression of borderline symptoms in adolescents, young adults, and older adults with BPD. A sample of 493 Iranian individuals with a confirmed diagnosis of BPD was segregated into 2 age groups: 134 young people aged 12-25 (mean = 17.60), and 142 adults aged 26 and older (mean = 31.69). Young people were divided into: 241 adolescents (mean = 15.59) and 100 young adults (mean = 22.45). Older groups compared with their younger counterparts showed significantly greater severity of borderline symptoms and greater difficulties with emotion regulation, but younger groups showed greater emotional and behavioral dysregulation. Sex differences generally mirrored those reported in the Western literature. Despite being limited by its cross-sectional design, this study suggests that adolescents, young adults, and older adults differ significantly in the way their borderline symptoms are expressed. The development of gender identity in adolescents with BPD and a disturbed sense of self is a neglected but potentially fruitful area of future research.

Do Defense Mechanisms and Dissociation Symptoms Link the Association Between Adverse Childhood Experience and Somatization Symptoms in Faroese Adolescents

ABSTRACT Exposure to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is a risk factor for the development and increase in somatization symptoms among adolescents. Defense mechanisms and dissociation may play a key role in the association between these variables. The aim of the study was to analyze the indirect association between direct and indirect exposure to ACEs with somatization symptoms through defense mechanisms and dissociation symptoms in Faroese adolescents. The sample consisted of 687 Faroese adolescents, who completed validated self-report questionnaires that assessed the variables under study. Serial multiple mediation models were tested by conducting a structural equation modeling employing Preacher and Hayes’ procedures (2008). Results showed that both direct and indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was indirectly related to somatization symptoms through immature defenses and dissociation symptoms. Indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was also indirectly related to somatization symptoms through neurotic defenses and dissociation symptoms. It was also observed that indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs was indirectly related to somatization symptoms through immature and neurotic defense mechanisms. The results suggest the central role of both defense mechanisms and dissociation symptoms in the association between direct and indirect exposure to multiple types of ACEs and somatization symptoms in Faroese adolescents.

Bullying and anxiety/depressive symptoms in Latinx adolescents living with obesity: the mediating role of self-esteem

Bullying and anxiety/depressive symptoms in Latinx adolescents living with obesity: the mediating role of self-esteem

The Relationship Between Insufficient Sleep and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Adolescents: A National Survey of Contributing Factors.

There is a lack of national studies examining the relationship between insufficient sleep and depression among Chinese adolescents, and previous research has not comprehensively considered related factors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depressive symptoms in adolescents with insufficient sleep and explore the role of associated factors using a nationally representative sample in China. A pen-and-paper survey was conducted among 24147 Chinese adolescents from November 2019 to January 2020. Data on depressive symptoms, maltreatment experiences, psychological resilience, demographic information, parent-child relationships, parental marital status, and sleep duration were collected. A total of 22231 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Among the respondents, 67.7% reported insufficient sleep, while 32.3% had sufficient sleep. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 25.3% in adolescents with insufficient sleep, compared to 8.2% in those with sufficient sleep. Insufficient sleep was identified as an independent risk factor for depressive symptoms (OR = 3.058, 95% CI: 2.753-3.396, P < 0.001). In adolescents with sufficient sleep, being female, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect were significant risk factors for depressive symptoms (P < 0.05), while higher resilience scores and a good parent-child relationship were protective factors (P < 0.05). Among adolescents with insufficient sleep, additional risk factors included higher body mass index (BMI), older age, parental divorce, and living with a single parent (P < 0.05). Insufficient sleep is significantly associated with depressive symptoms in Chinese adolescents. The adolescents with insufficient sleep, particularly those who are older, have a higher BMI, or come from divorced or single-parent households, require increased attention.

Academic Pressure and Psychological Imbalance in High School Students: Predictors of Depression via Polynomial Regression and Response Surface Analysis.

The purpose of this study was to explore how the congruence between academic pressure and psychological imbalance affects depressive symptoms in adolescents and to further explore grade-level differences in these effects among high school students. The study population consisted of 29,975high school students from 20 schools in Liuyang City, Hunan Province. The Mental Health Scale for Secondary School Students (MSSMHS) and Self-Depression Scale (SDS) were used to assess academic pressure, psychological imbalance and depressive symptoms. The effects of academic pressure and psychological imbalance were examined by polynomial regression and response surface analysis. The results showed that the lowest level of academic pressure (F = 35.99, p < 0.001), psychological imbalance (F = 54.50, p < 0.001), and depressive symptoms (F = 9.36, p < 0.001) was found in repeaters, while the highest level was found in twelfth graders. Academic pressure was positively associated with psychological disequilibrium, and both were positively associated with adolescent depressive symptoms. Furthermore, when academic pressure and psychological imbalance are aligned, adolescent depressive symptoms increase with the first two. In addition, adolescent depressive symptoms decreased as the difference between academic pressure and psychological imbalance increased. This study elucidates the non-linear relationship between academic pressure, psychological imbalance and depressive symptoms, and that adopting appropriate strategies to reduce academic pressure and adjust psychological balance is crucial for the prevention of depression in adolescents.

Associations of screen time with symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in adolescents.

To examine the associations between self-reported screen time and symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression in adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 982 adolescents aged between 12 and 15 years, enrolled in public schools in Jacarezinho (PR), Brazil. Screen time was assessed by the question "Considering a typical day, how much time do you spend watching TV, playing videogame, using computer or smartphone?" The DASS-21 questionnaire (short form) was used to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Crude and adjusted analyses (age, sex, and maternal level of education) between screen time and mental disorders symptoms were performed using general linear regression models, with Poisson distribution, with significance level at p<0.05. Higher depressive symptoms were observed in adolescents who reported screen time of 4-6 hours/day (PR 1.35, 95%CI 1.13-1.61) and ≥6 hours/day (PR 1.88, 95%CI 1.62-2.19), compared with their pairs with <2 hours/day. The same was observed for anxiety symptoms with screen time of 4-6 hours/day (PR 1.23, 95%CI 1.04-1.46) and ≥6 hours/day (PR 1.50, 95%CI 1.28-1.77); and stress, with 4-6 hours/day (PR 1.25, 95%CI 1.08-1.44) and ≥6 hours/day (PR 1.49, 95%CI 1.30-1.71), also compared with their pairs with <2 hours/day. Screen time was positively associated with depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms in adolescents. Special attention should be given to those who spend more than four hours a day in front of a screen.

Tracking the course of depressive and anxiety symptoms across adolescence (the CATS study): a population-based cohort study in Australia

Adolescent mental health appears to be in crisis, yet few studies have comprehensively charted the course of common mental disorders (CMDs; depression and anxiety) across this key life stage. We aimed to describe the course of CMD symptoms in adolescence by summarising annual prevalence, cumulative incidence, and course for depression and anxiety, both separately and as comorbid CMDs, by sex assigned at birth in a contemporary Australian cohort. The Child to Adult Transition Study (CATS) was established in 2012 to form a representative cohort of adolescents in Melbourne, VIC, Australia. 43 schools were recruited using a stratified sampling approach, and all 2289 students aged 8-9 years were invited to participate. 1239 (54·1%) students obtained parental written informed consent and were followed up annually from 2012 to 2019 for a total of ten waves. Data from waves 3-10 (ages 10 to 18 years) were used for the current study and analysed to describe the course of symptoms of CMDs across adolescence. Primary measures of interest were clinically relevant depressive symptoms, clinically relevant anxiety symptoms, and any CMD (clinically relevant depressive or anxiety symptoms) at waves 3-10. A secondary measure of interest was comorbid CMDs (concurrent reporting of clinically significant anxiety and depressive symptoms) at waves 3-10. Depressive symptoms in the past 2 weeks were self-reported using the 13-item validated Short Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ) at each wave, with a threshold score of 12 or more indicating clinically relevant symptoms. Anxiety symptoms in the past two weeks were self-reported using an 8-item shortened version of the Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) at each wave, with a threshold score of 11 or higher indicating clinically relevant symptoms. The course of CMDs was described using annual prevalence, cumulative incidence for depression and anxiety, separately and combined. Missing data were handled via multiple imputation. An author with lived experience was involved in the research and writing process. Of the 1239 adolescents who participated in the study, 667 (53·8%) were female and 572 (46·2%) were male. 769 (62·1%) of 1239 were classified as socioeconomically advantaged, 675 (66·4%) of the 1016 with available data had a mother whose highest level of education was vocational or tertiary, and 579 (70·7%) of the 819 participants with ethnicity data identified as Anglo-Celtic or European. Overall, incidence of any clinically significant CMD symptoms during adolescence was 74% (95% CI 70-77; 84% [81-88] for females and 61% [55-66] for males). Independently, incidences of clinically significant depressive symptoms and anxiety symptoms were 65% (62-68) and 58% (55-62), respectively. Incidence of comorbid CMD was 48% (45-52). The estimated mean ages of first report in adolescence for both sexes were 14·1 years (95% CI 13·9-14·4) and 13·6 years (3·3-13·9) for depressive and anxiety symptoms, respectively. Of those who reached the threshold score for any CMD between ages 10 and 18 years, over half had a chronic (three or more waves) course (depression 54% [49-60]; anxiety 52% [47-58]), and a third met criteria for full remission at any subsequent wave (depression 30% [25-35]; anxiety 33% [27-39]). Females were consistently estimated to have a worse course of adolescent CMDs compared with males (eg, 64% [58-70] of females had a chronic course of depressive symptoms vs 37% [26-48] of males). In this contemporary multi-wave cohort study, almost three-quarters of adolescents reported CMD symptoms. The likelihood of chronicity of CMD symptoms (ie, recurrence) was high. Universal responses are urgently required to address this considerable public health problem. National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia and the Royal Children's Hospital Foundation.

Personalized stress optimization intervention to reduce adolescents' anxiety: A randomized controlled trial leveraging machine learning.

Anxiety symptoms are among the most prevalent mental health disorders in adolescents, highlighting the need for scalable and accessible interventions. As anxiety often co-occurs with perceived stress during adolescence, stress interventions may offer a promising approach to reducing anxiety. Previous stress interventions have largely focused on the view that stress is harmful, aiming to manage and mitigate its negative effects. Stress optimization presents a novel intervention perspective, suggesting that stress can also lead to positive outcomes. However, it remains unclear whether stress optimization can effectively reduce anxiety symptoms in adolescents. We developed a single-session stress optimization intervention and investigated the conditions under which it was most effective. A large-scale randomized controlled trial was conducted (N = 1779, aged 12-18 years), with participants reporting their perceived stress, stress mindset, and anxiety over a two-month follow-up period. Machine learning is a promising approach for assessing personalized intervention effects. Conservative Bayesian causal forest analysis was employed to detect both treatment and heterogeneous intervention effects. The findings revealed that the intervention effectively reduced anxiety symptoms in the school context over a two-month follow-up (0.87 posterior probability). Furthermore, adolescents with higher anxiety and perceived stress at baseline experienced the most significant reductions in anxiety outcomes (standard deviations of -0.18 and -0.11 respectively). The single-session stress optimization intervention demonstrated potential for cost-effective scaling.

Birth order moderates the association between adverse childhood experiences and externalizing behavior symptoms in adolescence

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with externalizing behaviors. Whereas some ACEs affect individual children (i.e., child-specific; e.g., failing a grade), others affect the family unit (i.e., family-wide; e.g., parent losing a job); effects of ACEs on externalizing behavior may manifest differently across groupings of ACEs. Moreover, birth order may modify the association between child-specific and family-wide ACEs and externalizing behavior due to differences in the experience of being a younger versus older sibling. This study examined the externalizing behavior of siblings in relation to their experiences of child-specific and family-wide ACEs to test the hypothesis that younger siblings are at greater risk for developing externalizing symptoms following familial ACE exposure. Participants were 61 sibling pairs (younger sibling Mage = 11.37 years, 44.1% male; older sibling Mage = 13.1 years, 52.5% male) recruited from six schools in the northeastern United States. Parents rated each child’s externalizing behaviors (e.g., bullying, meanness) and retrospectively reported on each child’s experience of 34 ACEs; two raters categorized ACEs as child-specific (n = 10) or family-wide (n = 24). Multilevel modeling revealed that both child-specific and family-wide ACEs were associated with increased externalizing behaviors. Birth order moderated the effect of family-wide (but not child-specific) ACEs on externalizing behaviors, independent of sex and age. Externalizing behavior was higher for younger siblings as compared with older siblings, particularly when a high number of ACEs (6+) were reported. This research should prompt future exploration of mechanistic theories of the impact of family-wide and child-specific ACEs and the role of birth order.

Sudden gains in the treatment of children and adolescents with prolonged grief.

Sudden gains describe large and stable reductions in symptoms between two consecutive treatment sessions and have not yet been investigated in prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a new disorder in the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases and text revision of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders characterized by separation distress and accompanying symptoms beyond 6 months of bereavement. The study aimed to examine the occurrence of sudden gains and their relation to treatment outcome and content during cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and supportive counseling for children and adolescents with PGD symptoms. We used data from 118 patients (50% female; age: M = 12.93, SD = 2.81) who were randomized to receive either nine individual sessions of CBT or nondirective supportive counseling. Session-by-session PGD symptoms were assessed using the Grief Checklist. We identified sudden gains using the original criteria by Tang and DeRubeis (1999) and compared treatment outcomes between sudden gainers and nonsudden gainers using linear mixed models. Nine patients (7.63%) experienced a total of 10 sudden gains. Most sudden gains occurred during CBT. We found no differences between sudden gainers and nonsudden gainers regarding PGD symptoms, posttraumatic stress, and depressive symptoms, but problem behaviors declined toward the follow-up assessments in sudden gainers. Sudden gains seem to be a rare event with limited clinical relevance in the treatment of PGD symptoms in children and adolescents. Results imply future research into predictors of sudden gains and other forms of symptom change during PGD treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Factors associated with asthma symptoms in Colombian subpopulations aged 1 to 17 and 18 to 59: Secondary analysis of the study "Prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in Colombia 2009-2010".

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory lung disease, is one of the leading causes of disability, demands on health resources, and poor quality of life. It is necessary to identify asthma-related risk factors to reduce the presence and development of symptoms. This study aimed to explore the association of multiple possible factors with asthma symptoms in two subpopulations, children, adolescents, and adults, in six cities in Colombia. This was an observational analytical case-control study based on a cross-sectional study conducted as a secondary analysis of the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in Colombia during 2009 and 2010. Weighted logistic regressions were conducted for each population. Out of the 5978 subjects in the cross-sectional survey, 747 were identified as cases, and 3109 were identified as controls. The prevalence of asthma was 30.8% in the child and adolescent population and 14.7% in the adult population. Among the various factors studied, those associated with asthma symptoms in children/adolescents were: a family history of asthma (OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.3-4.7) and rhinitis (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.6); acetaminophen consumption at least once a month (OR 3.6; 95% CI 2.1-6.2); and the presence of birds at home (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1-3.8). Regarding food consumption: fruit consumption (OR 3.8; 95% CI 1.1-12.7). In adults, the factors that showed significant association were: a family history of allergic diseases (rhinitis OR 3.3; 95% CI 2.3-4.6), atopic eczema (OR 4.4; 95% CI 2.8-7.0), or asthma (OR 1.8;95% CI 1.3-2.6); acetaminophen consumption at least once a month (OR 2.0; 1.5-2.8); the presence of dogs at home (OR 1.4;95% CI 1.03-1.8), exposure to second-hand smoke (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.2-2.2), and exposure to exhaust fumes during the day (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.04-2.7). Our findings suggest that different cultural, environmental, and family factors are associated with asthma symptoms in children and adolescents, and these associations are evident in both males and females.

Chlorinated paraffins in particulate matter associated with asthma and its relative symptoms in school-aged children and adolescents: A cross-sectional survey in South China.

Particulate matter (PM) and contaminants attached to PM can increase the risk of respiratory diseases. However, the health risk assessment of chlorinated paraffins (CPs), an emerging pollutant occupying a high proportion of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in PM, remains scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the association between PM2.5-bound CPs and asthma, along with relative symptoms, in school-aged children and adolescents. A large sample size cross-sectional study (n=131,304) was conducted in the Pearl River Delta (PRD). The results showed that increased quantiles of ∑CPs were associated with odds ratios (ORs) of 1.22 (95%CI: 1.20-1.25), 1.38 (95%CI: 1.35-1.41), 1.17 (95%CI: 1.15-1.19), 1.52 (95%CI: 1.48-1.56), 1.66 (95%CI: 1.61-1.71), and 1.33 (95%CI: 1.30-1.37) for ever diagnosed asthma, current asthma, wheeze, current wheeze, persistent phlegm, and persistent cough, respectively. Additionally, C11-, C12-SCCPs and C14-, C17-MCCPs contributed the most positive weight to the risk of asthma and relative symptoms. These findings provide cutting-edged evidence for the health risk assessment of CPs, which is crucial for developing effective CPs management strategy.

Psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents with temporal lobe epilepsy: A narrative review.

People with epilepsy (PWE) are at higher risk of psychiatric disorders (PD), disability, and reduced quality of life than the general population, especially in childhood and adolescence and when seizures originate from the temporal lobe. Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE) is the most common type of focal epilepsy and can be due to structural abnormalities, or non-lesional causes, such as genetic variants. The prevalence of PD is approximately 20%-30% in people with epilepsy in general, and from 40% up to 80% in people with TLE. A higher rate of anxiety and depression disorders has been observed in association with TLE than with extra-temporal epilepsy, or idiopathic generalized epilepsy, or other chronic diseases such as diabetes. However, while the association between psychopathology and TLE has been extensively assessed in adults, only a few studies have focused on its expression in children and adolescents. In this review, we describe the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for PD in people with epilepsy in general and with TLE, with a specific focus on the pediatric age. In addition, we provide insights into the current knowledge of the pathophysiological bases of psychiatric symptoms in children and adolescents with TLE. PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: This review examines the frequency and characteristics of psychiatric disorders in people with temporal lobe epilepsy, with a focus on children and adolescents. Similarly to adults, younger people with epilepsy have higher rates of psychiatric disorders, such as depression and anxiety, than healthy peers or children with other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and asthma. Contributing risk factors include epilepsy duration and severity, and the effects of antiseizure medications, as well as psychological challenges, sociocultural influences, and family dynamics. Psychiatric disorders associated with temporal lobe epilepsy are relatively frequent, probably in relation to the critical role that some limbic structures in the temporal lobe, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, play in regulating emotions and behavior.